A winery in the Santa Rita Hills has taken advantage of its hillside vineyards to add the new aspect of exercise to the wine-tasting experience on its 628-acre estate.Alma Rosa Winery just recently included 2 wine-tasting walkings offered by visit at its El Jabali Estate, situated in the Sta. Rita Hills American Viticultural Area.Debra Eagle, general manager of Alma Rosa Winery, stated the
“stimulating and strenuous”walkings through the vineyards are a perfect enhance to a private tasting in the winery’s Cattle ranch House.”Owners Bob and Barb Zorich and I are health enthusiasts, and we like
sharing the ranch with visitors who share our enthusiasm for physical activity and, obviously, great red wine,”Eagle said.The brand-new tastings and hikes, one called the Caracol Walking and the other the Attente Hike, differ in length and strength level, with each showcasing a different side of the home, she said.Both hikes require durable walking shoes, Eagle said, including that using sunglasses and hats and dressing in layers is strongly recommended.Either walking requires a 48-hour advance notice.The Caracol Walking is a roughly 1-mile round trip with a steep reach the winery’s Caracol vineyard block, which
was planted by winery founder Richard Sanford, the very first to
plant pinot noir grapes in the Santa Rita Hills in 1971. Caracol block was planted in a distinct spiral shape using various clones and rootstocks in a radiating pattern, providing each row a different orientation to the sun, Eagle said.Visitors will start with a splash of white wine and continue tasting with a view of the valley from the top of the Caracol, then will conclude the tour with an additional tasting and a cheese plate at
the Cattle Ranch House.The Caracol Hike begins at 10 a.m., takes about 2 hours and costs $75 per person.Starting at the Alma Rosa Ranch House, the Attente Walking takes visitors through pinot noir vineyards, open meadows and oak forests to the highest elevation
vineyard that’s planted in grenache and syrah.The peak offers an awesome view of the Santa Rita Hills and the southern range of mountains, Eagle said.Covering just over 2 miles, the Attente Walking starts with a taste of white wine at the Cattle ranch Home, another in the Attente block and surfaces at the Ranch House with a cheese plate and
three more wine offerings.The hike begins at 9:30 a.m., takes about 3 hours and expenses$95 per person.Take a winery hike To make reservations for the Caracol or Attente trek at Alma Rosa Winery, email Channing Jones at [email protected]. Either hike requires a 48-hour advance notice. For more information about Alma Rosa Winery, see www.almarosawinery.com. And follow them on Instagram at @AlmaRosaWinery and on Facebook at Alma Rosa Winery.